$121m US assistance provided for SMEs
The US has provided $121 million in financial assistance for disbursement among small and medium enterprises, especially rural ones, affected by the pandemic's severe fallout under a corporate social responsibility programme, said the US ambassador to Bangladesh yesterday.
The envoy, Earl R Miller, said the Covid-19 and vaccination situation has been improving in Bangladesh.
The vaccination programme uses US donations of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. "To date, the United States has donated 15 million doses," he said.
The USAID on October 19 announced $25 million in funding for the vaccination campaign and Bangladesh's capacity to develop oxygen supplies, he told a virtual inauguration of "AmCham COVID-19 Support Initiative for HEALTHCARE".
The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) announced donating Tk 30 million for installing intensive care and high-dependency units and other treatment facilities in hospitals in Jashore, Chuadanga and Pabna with Sajida Foundation.
"I am proud to see US businesses, represented by the American Chamber of Commerce, not simply continuing the battle but raising 10 times more money this year than it did in the first year of the pandemic, when it donated Tk 3 million to support farm families," said the ambassador.
Syed Ershad Ahmed, the AmCham president, said the chamber has also been supporting people, farmers and small business enterprises in Nepal.
The AmCham said to have supported 1,000 farmers in Bangladesh last year.
Zahida Fizza Kabir, CEO of Sajida Foundation, also spoke.
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